Police say that they will not cut internet or mobile phone transmissions, and they will arrest anyone that forwards rumors about internet disruptions.

... Yeah, go ahead, wrap your head around that ^

For those of you who know who I am, I live in suburbs of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Anon). Police roadblocks everywhere. The gov't crackdown is mind-bogglingly massive. All roads into and out of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur are roadblocked.

Yesterday, the Malaysian military was doing live fire exercises, and ind the background, there were huge banners hat said
DISPERSE OR WE WILL SHOOT

For oldfags, Malaysian anon should be a clue. Yup, it's me, not a newfag.

Internet connection is deteriorating rapidly.

Police are arresting anyone who forwards the opposition propaganda that the gov't will cut internet service.

Malaysian sources say that, in a manner reminiscent of the paranoid claims made by besieged Middle Eastern dictatorships, the government has claimed Bersih 2.0 is a plot by a variety of fanciful malign forces — a conspiracy by Canadian Christians to install a Christian Prime Minister, a communist plot, and a terrorist plot by extremist Christians in Sarawak.

LOLWUT?

It has also demanded that Malaysian students in Australia not engage in protest and begun rounding up not just protesters but anything associated with the reform group.

I know what youre talking about even though I didnt get so deep into it. I lived in Malasyia too for a quite long time and I have family there (Subang Jaya). So Id be glad if you could keep us/ me updated about whats going on. Thx And if you get a chance kick the govs ass!

bump... in recognition that there are bigger things far worse than scientology, and global issues not intimately connected to oil fields & holy land deserve just as much (perhaps more) awareness due to lack of international attention.

I know what youre talking about even though I didnt get so deep into it. I lived in Malasyia too for a quite long time and I have family there (Subang Jaya). So Id be glad if you could keep us/ me updated about whats going on. Thx And if you get a chance kick the govs ass!

On it. I'm nearby, in Shah Alam. Total lockdown in and out of Kuala Lumpur since last night. At least 30 major roads closed down leading to KL, the Capital City. The North - South highway (the main artery from the top to bottom of peninsular Malaysia is chocked down to 1 lane, police looking inside every vehicle. Busses of protesters not allowed. Wearing yellow t-shirts is still illegal. At least 250 peaceful protesters arrested so far.

At least the internet is still up and running. Police have warned that they will arrest anyone who spreads rumors of an impending internet shutdown.

^ Think about that for a second...

10AM local time, rally is at 2 PM today.

More updates later. I would dearly love to attend the rally, but my spouse says no way in hell. At minimum, tear gas and water cannons laced with irritating chemicals are expected, which is normal retaliation for any protests here.

Malaysian sources say that, in a manner reminiscent of the paranoid claims made by besieged Middle Eastern dictatorships, the government has claimed Bersih 2.0 is a plot by a variety of fanciful malign forces — a conspiracy by Canadian Christians to install a Christian Prime Minister, a communist plot, and a terrorist plot by extremist Christians in Sarawak.

Malaysia kini is a local news site that was earlier DDOSed by the government. They now say they are being attacked again. Since the last attack a couple months ago, they purched additional servers outside of the country. It is a paid subscription online news site.

Malaysian police sealed off parts of the capital on Saturday in a bid to thwart a protest aimed at igniting an uprising against Prime Minister Najib Razak's government similar to the revolutions in the Middle East.

More updates later. I would dearly love to attend the rally, but my spouse says no way in hell. At minimum, tear gas and water cannons laced with irritating chemicals are expected, which is normal retaliation for any protests here.

SAGE!!!! full mental government warfare is not conducive to protesting...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — City folk stepped out of their homes and into a ghost town this morning in what many has described as “the lull before the storm” of the nation’s second march for free and fair elections by Bersih 2.0.

The main road arteries snaking through the capital were devoid of the usual Saturday visitors, crowded instead by a sea of policemen and reporters deployed at various checkpoints across the city.

Kuala Lumpur’s characteristic hustle and bustle was whittled down to a whimper as many offices and shops, from major franchises like KFC and A&amp;W to small-time traders, have kept their shutters down in anticipation of the chaos that may break out closer to noon.
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The action for now seems to be at Masjid Negara, which is heavily guarded by the police.

KUALA LUMPUR: The lock-down of the federal capital, ahead of the planned Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for this afternoon, is in full swing with the police setting up roadblocks at all major roads leading to the city while LRT passengers are being checked since early this morning.

FMT reporters on the ground report that there was heavy police presence in the city, especially in “hotspots” like Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Negara, Jalan Tun Perak, and Jalan Raja Laut, just to name a few.

Late last night the police conducted “raids” at small hotels in the city with the intention of flushing out outstation Bersih supporters who have come to the city for the rally.

Police have also been using helicopters to monitor the situation since this morning.

They have mounted a roadblock at the Sungai Besi toll, checking all cars. So far nobody has been detained at this roadblock but it has caused a traffic snarl for those wanting to enter the city, which, for the time being, resembles a ghost town with hardly any cars on the roads.

Dataran Merdeka, meanwhile, has been completely cordoned off.

Reports from the ground also say that the LRT system seems to be running smoothly but policemen have been placed at all stations.
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12.15pm:Former KTM headquarters - The toilets in the building have been locked up by the police.

12.16pm:Masjid Jamek - Although hardly any shop is opened, many people are loitering around the back lanes of Little India, waiting for the time to act.

The police continue to comb the back lanes, checking the bags of potential protesters.

&quot;They asked us to open our bag, suspecting there is bomb inside,&quot; said an angry middle-aged Malay woman from Klang after her bag was inspected by four uniformed police officers.

&quot;Why can't we just sit here? This is our human rights,&quot; said another woman who is also from Klang.

12.20pm:KL Sentral - Pakatan Rakyat leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anthony Loke and Saifuddin Nasution are at Hilton Hotel, which is located in the building. They are expected to hold a press conference soon. All of them are on the list of 91 individuals banned from entering Kuala Lumpur.

&quot;People march in support of Bersih 2.0, in Melbourne, July 9, 2011.&quot;

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — While the police intensify efforts to stop Bersih 2.0 supporters from gathering here this morning, Malaysians across globe have already begun to rally in support of free and fair elections.

According to eyewitness accounts from Melbourne, Australia, some 750 marchers brandishing banners and placards in Bersih 2.0’s signature yellow have gathered at Federation Square to call for electoral reforms in Malaysia.

In Wellington, New Zealand, a group of about 10 people reportedly stood together while encouraging passing cars to honk their horns to indicate support.

At Bersih 2.0 New Zealand’s Facebook fan page, it was reported that a mini rally was held at the University of Canterbury.

About five hours ago, a supporter posted details on the various gatherings in New Zealand, calling on participants to meet at a car park in Church Corner, Christchurch; the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington; Morgan Street, Newmarket, in Auckland; and Royal Oat Mall, also in Auckland at a different time.

Bersih 2.0, a Malaysian-based coalition comprising 62 non-governmental organisations, have called on all Malaysians across the globe to participate in today’s rally, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to the city centre here.

Malaysians living in at least 24 cities in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Sweden, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the US are expected to take part in the rally, which could notably turn into Malaysia’s largest movement to date.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Police set up roadblocks, deployed trucks mounted with water cannon and sealed off parts of Kuala Lumpur today as hundreds of anti-government protesters took to the streets in a show of strength against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Over 200 activists were detained and thousands of police fanned out across the city of 1.6 million people to stop the protest

“I am hoping we will make it through the police blocks,” said Nor Shahidal, a college student in her early 20s, as she made her way to the national mosque.

“We are not being disruptive, we want to walk for free and fair elections.”

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Tens of thousands marched towards riot police firing water cannons near the Maybank headquarters as the crowd took all roads and paths towards Stadium Merdeka calling for free and fair elections.

The riot police continued firing the water cannons as they retreated from the crowd. Earlier reports said tear gas was fired to disperse a large group gathered near the Bar Council building on Leboh Pasar Besar.

On a live video stream of the rally online, the crowd was seen covering their faces and fleeing the scene as plumes of gas wafted towards them.

Earlier today, PAS vice presidents Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub were picked up by police shortly after noon at the KL Sentral transport hub, before they could make their way to the rally. Deputy president Mohamad Sabu was later confirmed by police as having been arrested.

The trio were in the list of 91 individuals banned from entering Kuala Lumpur and among 540 would-be Bersih supporters arrested so far.
...

Here, government workers are handing out red "Patriot" t-shirts to counter-protesters.

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other photos

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My prediction is, if the Red shirt counter-protesters manage to incite violence, the government will use that as an excuse to bring in the military or call for Emergency rule. We'll see what transpires.